Drayage Capacity Coordinator - Chicago, IL

Job Summary

This position is on-site in Chicago Loop. Salary can range $50K-$60K plus commission. 

The Drayage Capacity Coordinator is responsible for building, managing, and executing BlueGrace Group's drayage carrier network across all relevant ports, rails, and inland destinations. This role owns both sides of the drayage equation — maintaining and deepening relationships with existing carrier partners while continuously prospecting and onboarding new capacity to meet evolving customer demand. The Drayage Capacity Coordinator is accountable for pricing drayage shipments competitively, executing moves in coordination with the broader drayage team, and ensuring that BlueGrace's drayage operations run with the speed, reliability, and compliance that customers expect. This is a relationship-driven, operationally intensive role that requires prior drayage experience and a working knowledge of port and rail operations, chassis management, and container freight logistics. The ideal candidate is a resourceful problem-solver who thrives in a dynamic environment and takes personal ownership of capacity outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Carrier Relationship Management

• Manage and maintain BlueGrace's existing network of drayage carrier partners, serving as their primary point of contact for load assignments, rate negotiations, and performance feedback.
• Conduct regular check-ins with active drayage carriers to review capacity availability, service performance, and operational needs.
• Monitor carrier performance metrics including on-time pickup and delivery, appointment compliance, communication responsiveness, and equipment standards.
• Resolve carrier disputes, detention and demurrage discrepancies, and service failures in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain accurate carrier records — contact information, equipment types, port and rail authority, and compliance documentation — within the TMS and carrier management systems.

Capacity Development & Carrier Procurement

• Continuously prospect, qualify, and onboard new drayage carriers to expand BlueGrace's capacity network across active and emerging trade lanes.
• Identify capacity gaps in the current carrier network by port, rail ramp, or region, and develop targeted outreach strategies to fill them.
• Evaluate new carrier candidates against BlueGrace's compliance requirements including FMCSA authority, insurance, port credentials (TWIC, port registrations), and equipment standards.
• Build relationships with new carrier partners through regular communication, consistent load opportunities, and a collaborative approach to growing the partnership.
• Track and report on carrier network growth, new carrier onboarding activity, and capacity coverage by market to the Manager of Drayage.

Drayage Pricing

• Price drayage shipments accurately and competitively, incorporating all cost components including base linehaul, port/rail fees, chassis costs, fuel, and applicable accessorials.
• Maintain current knowledge of port congestion conditions, chassis availability, free time windows, and per diem structures that affect drayage pricing at key locations.
• Develop and maintain lane-specific rate benchmarks and carrier rate sheets to support consistent, efficient quoting across the drayage team.
• Negotiate rates with carrier partners to ensure BlueGrace maintains competitive pricing while protecting margin on all drayage moves.
• Collaborate with account managers and the drayage team to respond to customer pricing requests with speed and accuracy.

Shipment Execution & Operations

• Execute drayage shipments end-to-end in coordination with the broader drayage team, from carrier assignment and appointment scheduling through delivery confirmation and close-out.
• Manage all shipment documentation including container release, delivery orders, rail BOLs, and port/terminal instructions, ensuring accuracy before and during execution.
• Monitor in-transit shipments proactively, tracking container availability, free time expiration, and delivery appointments to prevent unnecessary detention, demurrage, or per diem charges.
• Communicate shipment status updates, delays, and exceptions to account managers and customers in a timely and transparent manner.
• Coordinate with ports, rail ramps, terminals, and warehouses to schedule and confirm appointments, resolve access issues, and ensure smooth container handling.
• Identify and escalate execution issues that could impact service commitments or result in significant accessorial exposure.

Team Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with the drayage team, account managers, and operations leadership to align on customer requirements, capacity needs, and execution priorities.
• Maintain accurate shipment, carrier, and pricing data in the TMS to support real-time visibility, billing accuracy, and operational reporting.
• Contribute to weekly team capacity reviews, identifying emerging lane challenges and proposing carrier solutions proactively.
• Support the Manager of Drayage with ad hoc reporting, carrier performance analysis, and capacity planning initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

• Prior drayage experience required — candidates must have hands-on knowledge of port and/or rail drayage operations, carrier management, or drayage pricing.
• Working knowledge of port and intermodal operations including container release processes, free time and per diem structures, chassis management, and terminal appointment systems.
• Experience managing carrier relationships and procuring drayage capacity across multiple ports or rail ramps preferred.
• Strong understanding of drayage pricing components including linehaul, chassis, port fees, fuel, and accessorials.
• Familiarity with FMCSA carrier compliance requirements and port credentialing standards (TWIC, port registration) a strong plus.
• Proficiency with TMS platforms and carrier management tools; ability to quickly learn new systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to manage carrier and customer relationships professionally under pressure.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills — able to manage multiple active shipments, open capacity needs, and carrier relationships simultaneously.
• Self-motivated and resourceful; comfortable taking initiative and making decisions independently in a fast-moving operational environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, International Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent drayage industry experience may substitute.